Results 8,161-8,180 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (5 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department. However, I can confirm that none of my Ministerial appointees are in receipt of a Public Service pension. The Deputy should be aware that Public Service pension entitlements may be carried from one Public Service employment to the next provided the employer is a member of the Public Service Transfer Network. Pensions are...
- Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Order for Second Stage (6 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."
- Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." This is a targeted and focused Bill for the purpose of amending section 35 of the Competition Act 2002 to enable the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation appoint whole-time members, on a temporary basis, to fill current and upcoming vacancies in the Competition Authority. Upcoming vacancies would have the effect of reducing...
- Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: I thank all Deputies who contributed to the debate on the Bill, particularly those who spoke to its content. I remind them that the Bill is very focused and aims to deal with a limited number of issues that need immediate attention. A number of very interesting points were made. I will respond to some of them and study and give serious consideration to others in the context of other...
- Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: As I stated, 40% of recommendations have been implemented, while a further 9% are being progressed.
- Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: Other issues are being considered. The Deputy must understand that these are recommendations and not every recommendation emanating from an authority will be implemented.
- Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: To show the serious intent of the Government, we will give an outline of an overall response to the recommendations issued by the Competition Authority on a six monthly basis. On the Towards 2016 commitment on certain classes of vulnerable workers, namely, voice-over actors, freelance journalists and session musicians, an issue raised by Deputies Varadkar, Penrose and English, this issue...
- Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Referral to Select Committee (6 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in accordance with Standing Order 122(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.
- Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (6 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: In the five year period 2005 to 2009 there were a total of 2,423 IDA supported jobs created in the Mid West region counties of Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary. Details of the number of those jobs created in each of the those counties in each of the years in question is set out in the tabular statement. In addition, in the same period a total of 2,189 new jobs were created in the Shannon...
- Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (6 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: The basic salary and emoluments granted to the chief executive officer of all of the Agencies under the aegis of my Department are sanctioned by the Department of Finance, and are set out in the table. Agency August 2008â Non PPC August 2008- PPC September 2008â Non PPC September 2008PPC Competition Authority - Chairperson â¬173,216 â¬182,333 â¬177,547 â¬186,891 County Enterprise...
- Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (11 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: Measuring competitiveness is complex and requires an assessment of the full range of factors which enable firms to improve their productivity levels and compete in international markets. There are a number of international indices of competitiveness produced by international bodies, each with their own methodological constraints. The National Competitiveness Council's annual report,...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the name of my Department was officially changed on 2nd May last. Every effort has been made to keep costs, which will be provided from within my Department's existing resources, to a minimum. Where possible, work associated with the name change has been undertaken in-house, by the staff in my Department. The vast majority of the tasks, associated with my...
- Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (11 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department was notified by Enterprise Ireland on the 4th May of the proposed redundancies in Irish Cement, a subsidiary of the CRH group, and my officials have informed me that a voluntary redundancy package is being negotiated with the Unions involved. Irish cement has plants in Platin, County Louth and Castlemungret, County Limerick and the redundancies will be shared across both...
- Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (11 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: The 2010 financial allocation to Limerick City Enterprise Board, and to each of the other 34 individual Enterprise Boards, is derived from the final allocation set out for my Department in the Revised Estimate as published on 18 February 2010. The 2010 budget allocation for the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is â¬28.3m of which â¬14.994 is allocated for Capital Expenditure. This...
- Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (11 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: At present the Industrial Development agencies under the aegis of my Department use a range of schemes to attract internationally-traded Financial Services operations to all parts of the country. The schemes used are the same ones as are used to promote investment and employment in manufacturing or in other internationally-traded service operations. The schemes available to Financial Services...
- Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (11 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: My Department does not provide direct funding or grants to businesses but provides funding to a number of State Agencies, including the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) and Enterprise Ireland, through whom assistance is delivered directly to businesses. The CEB's unique role positions them as a first point of contact for persons wishing to set up in business and therefore I would...
- Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (11 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Council formations for which my Department has particular responsibilities are the Competitiveness Council and the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (ESPHCA). Since my appointment as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, there have been no meetings held of either the EU Competitiveness Council or the ESPHCA Council. The next meeting of the...
- Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (11 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: Enterprise Ireland continues to work closely with the other Government agencies and South Dublin County Enterprise Board towards job creation in Tallaght. Since 2008, Enterprise Ireland has approved â¬29 million approximately and made payments of â¬19,284,627 to client companies in the Tallaght and South Dublin region. In addition, the agency is offering a range of New Funding Supports...
- Enterprise Stabilisation Fund (12 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 40 and 43 together. The enterprise stabilisation fund, ESF, was established by Government in 2009 as a two-year scheme to support viable but vulnerable exporting companies experiencing difficulties because of the current economic climate. Some â¬78 million is currently being provided under the ESF for 2009 and 2010. At 30 April 2010, a total of 227...
- Enterprise Stabilisation Fund (12 May 2010)
Batt O'Keeffe: I take issue with the Deputy with regard to the Government not having a jobs strategy. Governments do not create jobs, but create the environment in which jobs can be put in place. I am satisfied the Government has a strategy that will create jobs. Take for example the IDA Ireland programme, Horizon 2020, which will create a number of jobs through a programme that will run from 2010 to...